Norwood skipper Bek McMahon says Redlegs want to win a flag for former teammate Ellen Maple
NORWOOD captain Bek McMahon says a win in Wednesday’s SANFLW grand final against South Adelaide will be dedicated to former teammate Ellen Maple who died in a horror car accident this month.
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NORWOOD captain Bek McMahon says the loss of a former teammate has galvanised the team and a win in Wednesday’s SANFLW grand final will be dedicated to Ellen Maple.
McMahon was a teammate and close friend of Maple, who died when her car crashed into a Stobie pole, bringing down powerlines, at Glengowrie on April 8.
Maple featured with the Redlegs last year before crossing to Sturt for this season.
McMahon, who skippered Norwood to its inaugural premiership last year, says leading her side onto the oval for the flag decider will be extra special and emotional this year.
“The week in itself and the devastating news has probably just driven us and just really pushed our season forward than what we possibly could’ve gone before,” McMahon, 30, says.
“Even the girls that didn’t know Ellen are really just behind the girls who are grieving the hardest.”
The Redlegs played in the preliminary final against North Adelaide just six days after Maple’s death.
They recorded an eight-point victory over the Roosters at Prospect Oval on April 14 to earn a berth in a second consecutive flag decider.
Norwood is 0-2 against the Panthers this year but McMahon is confident her side has the talent to topple the league leaders.
“The heart and passion played last week will be with us again this week,” she says.
“Going back-to-back will mean so much and obviously it will have a lot more meaning this year.”
Norwood plays South Adelaide in the grand final after the traditional men’s Anzac Day clash between last season’s grand finalists — Sturt and Port — at Unley Oval at 4pm.
Both clubs will receive a share of $20,000 in prizemoney — the largest cash pool of any female state league football competition.
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